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IMPRovrMENT 1N TURNING-LATES.

.Rennaisl W.l DREW, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS,

i Letters Patent No. 60,155, dated December 4, 1866.

Y SPEcFIGATION. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, REUBEN W. DREW, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lathes, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of y this specification, in which-..-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through' the centre of the frame containing the spindle of a lathe having my improvements applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a section on the line a: :e of iig.f 1. i Figure 3 is a view of one of the boxes in which the spindle of the lathe runs. The boxes for the reception of the spindle of hand or engine ylathes have heretofore been formed in two pieces let into the framework, those portions of the spindle resting in the boxes being turned down to a smaller diameter thanthe main portion of the spindle, and being 'provided with square p shoulders to keep it in place. l

The front or portion of the spindle next the work has also been tapered in its bearingsybut where such a spindle isused the work constantly crowds it back, ciiusing it to revolve loosely iii its bearings, and to counteract this y tendency it is necessary to support the opposite extremity of the spindle in a step by which the spindle may be pressed snugly into its bearing and be kept up to the work. Both of these methods are,`however, objectionable, for the reason that when either the spindle or its bearing becomes worn, the line of the centre lof the spindle is thrown out `of the prolongation .of the line of the centre of the work, and in order to bring the axis ofthe spindle and that of the work in the same horizontal line, it is necessary to remove and file down `the boxes, which is `a tedious operation. To obviate this inconvenience is the object of my invention, which consists in supporting the spindle in solid boxes, one or both of which are slitted and made tapering in the framework; that portion of the spindle resting in one or both of the boxes being made of a greater diameter than the main portioncr body of the spindle, `the box or boxes being held in their places in the framework and drawnl up` snnglynround the spindle, as their surfacesbecome worn, by means of nuts `and screws, in an easy and expeditious manner.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I williproceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings A is the framework which is bored out for the reception of the boxes, B C, inwhich revolves the spindle D. Each of these boxes is made in one piece; theportion `of the` exterior of the box B, y

which restsin the framework, beingief` uniform diameter throughout, and providedgwith `a screw-thread, u, for

the reception of a nut, b, to clamp'the shoulder, c, against the side of the framework and securely hold thebox` therein. The surface ofthe interior ofthe b ox B is made tapering,.as shown in` iig. I, for thereeeption of the spindle' D,

framework A, is made tapering; the boxC bei-ng also providedl with a screw-thread, e, at each extremity, for `a purpose hereafter tobe explained. 'f lhe inner end of the spindle D is bored out to receive theconical-shaped plug E, which terminates in a point, between which and the dead centre" of the lathe (not shown in` drawings) is placed the work while being .turned or bored, a chuck-plate, F, being screwed to/the spindletl),` at

g, by which the work is secured in place after being adjusted to the centres. The spindle is provided `with a i.

shoulder or projection, h, against which bears the-inner end of a` series of pulleys, Gr, which arefastened to the bored out to receive a set-screw, j, while the interior of the front end is provided with a screw-thread, `le, for the purpose of securing the cap to the rear endof the box C. Z is a nut for keeping` the box Cfronimovinglongil` tudinallylwithin the framework when properly adjusted therein, and these boxes are `prevented from turning within the framework by means of screws, m, one of which is seen in iig. 2, the screw passinginto a recess, P,

iig. 3, formedin the side of the box C, to admithof its longitudinal movement, and allowit to bedrawn through the framework when the. nut l is turned, in order to contract the diameter 'of the box, and causeitltewiitfsnugly` around the spindle, should the surfaces become worn away suiiciently to require it. ,Inf heavy chucking, where it is desirable to take oii' a portion of the friction between the rounded surfaces of the spindle and its box B, (occasioned by the work pressing forcibly in this directiom) after the box G has been brought `snugly l which is made of a'corresponding taper at this point, and of a larger diameter` than the `body of the i spindle. The box C is cut or split, as seen at d, and the portion of the exterior of the boxwhich rests in the i and by means of which the power is applied to drive the spindle. The outer end of the spindle is provided with a screw-thread, z', upon which turnthe check-nuts H I, for preventing the `spindle from having any longitudinal play within its boxes when the lathe sin use. J is a cap or thimble, thevrearend of which is,`

around the spindle by turning the nut Z, and the spindle isl prevented from having any longitudinal play by tightening the check-nuts HI, the cap or thimble J .may be screwed upon the outside of the box, and the 1setscrew j forced against the end of the spindle D, by which means I am enabled to prevent 'much of the friction which would otherwise be occasioned from this cause. Should the nut Z close the box C too tightly around the spindle, the cap or thimble on the opposite side of the box may be used as a checkmut and be tightened so, as to slightly loosen the grasp of the box on the spindle. By increasing instead of reducing the diameter of those portions of the spindle Where they rest in theiigbearings, the Work is held much more steadily while being operated upon. v

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, as an improvement in lathes, and in lathes only, is Y Making' the front box or bearing B, tapering in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

I also claim thefspindle D, with its check-nuts H I, in combination with the slitted box C.

I also claim the slitted box C, with its nut, l, in combination with the cap-J, and its set-screw j, for the l'purpose described.

' REUBEN W. DREW- Witnesses;

P. E. TEsonEMAoHnR, WM. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

